How To Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet!

By James Mills, Associate Partner & Mentorship Coach, Lighthouse International

Imagine your most incredible year…. would it be full of adventure and excitement? More energy and health? Greater levels of happiness? A career change? Earning a million? New relationships or strengthening existing ones? Or just having the feeling each morning that you’re living your life more on your terms?

Often there are many of us that have high hopes for a new year; setting out bold intentions for how the year will be different. Yet, how many of us actually make any lasting, real changes happen?

Research from the University of Scranton shows that only 9% of people are successful in keeping their new year's resolutions. What makes them different?

Why Is This Time of Year So Crucial For The Year Ahead?

So, as we start a new lap around the sun 🙂 it’s a perfect time to reflect on the year gone by to start preparing for the year ahead. There's plenty going on at this time and without taking the time to do this, we run the risk of repeating the same mistakes we made last year. Entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson stresses that what we do at this time is critical for having a happy, healthy and successful year ahead!

"There is a saying that goes around at this time of year. 'Don't worry what you eat between Christmas and New Year.'

Actually, it is what you eat between New Year and Christmas that really matters. I'll be making it one of my resolutions to maintain a healthy diet in 2017, which will put me in good shape to achieve my other goals too."

The reality is that legends use this time well; yes to connect with friends and family, but also to crystallise how they see the year ahead. Successful people are constantly reflecting on where they want to be and what they are working towards.

How Do You Know What To Focus On?

Over the years Facebook Co-Founder Mark Zuckerberg has earned a reputation for completing personal challenges ranging from learning Mandarin, reading a book every two weeks, meeting a new person every day and running 365 miles in a year. He goes into each year knowing what he wants to achieve. There is, however, more to these challenges than making use of leisure time as explained by an article in Inc.com:

"With his New Years resolutions, Zuckerberg turns the high-powered innovation beam on himself. Every challenge he undertakes carries the end goal of solving for some aspect of himself that he'd like to develop further, some gap in his ultimate self-vision."

As the year comes to a natural conclusion, take a moment to stop and ask yourself what sort of year you want. If you want to take the first step in understanding how you can make 2019 the most incredible year possible, below are some questions that will help...

How To Kick-Start 2019!

1. What do you think most people want for the year ahead?

Share privately below.....

Improve their physical health and fitnessIncrease their incomeMore meaningful and fulfilling workMore time with friends and familyLearn a new skill, hobby or gain a qualificationBe able to contribute and give backOther:

2. Why do you feel only 9% of people manage to achieve their goals and/or keep their new year’s resolutions?

Don’t know what they wantAre not disciplined enoughLack confidenceLack the right supportAre too busy / overwhelmed Too distracted- Other

3. What would make 2019 an amazing year for you?

More adventure and excitement?More energy and health?Greater levels of happiness?A career change?Earning a million?New relationships or strengthening existing ones?Feeling more in control of your life?Other

4. What one goal would you absolutely love to achieve next year?

5. What is the one thing that could empower you to have an amazing year ahead?

Learn the lessons from the previous yearKnow what my goals areHave the right support and encouragementHave more moneyHave more timeBe less distracted / procrastinate lessOther:

6. Would you like to discover more about how you could get the support to make 2019 your most catalytical year ahead?

My passion is education because I feel that so many more people would be able to lead happier, more successful and fulfilling lives if we all had access to a more inspiring education system. My vision is that we have an inspiring teacher in every classroom; I realise that there’s plenty to be done in order to bring that to life, but committed to doing what it takes to bring together the people and resources to make that happen.

As an Associate Partner at Lighthouse International and Co-Founder of Lighthouse Kidz I am committed to developing my ability to bring together emerging leaders and social entrepreneurs to make a positive difference in the world. Presently I’m working on a variety of initiatives such as bringing together the people, expertise and resources to ensure that everyone has access to clean water.